AT YOUR SERVICE: Staff of Berkhamsted Hospice Shop. Left to right, Sonja Phillips, Jean Gale, Dot Will son and Lin Underwood. Inset, Dot tries one of the donated hats for size.
THE manager of the Hospice of St Francis shops across the area is encouraging people to get behind the Dig Deep campaign.
Lin Underwood, of Berkhamsted, said support is strong but there is a danger that people are forgetting how important the new hospice is.
She said: "I think there's a lot of complacency around. People assume, falsely that the money is all there. We need the money to keep coming in. We need to Dig Deep to get the new hospice built then keep it on people's minds.
"People have been called on a lot recently to donate to national events by the national media and sometime forget about the local area and community and what goes on there."
Lin manages the five hospice shops in Berkhamsted, Abbots Lan-gley, Bovingdon, Highfield and Chesham and has noticed an increase in support since the launch of the Dig Deep campaign.
She said: "All of the shops have received additional donations and there have been more things coming into the shops. This will all help
maximise the money we make and save the hospice on its running costs."
Lin joined the Hospice of St Francis as a volunteer in 2001, after working at Boots for several years, taking on the role of manager of the then newly opened Berkhamsted store.
She said: "It was my ideal job when it came up. My mother was a supporter of the hospice and a dear friend of the family was cared for there. I just thought if I could work anywhere I wanted to be local and work for something that was part of the community."
The Hospice of St Francis shops account for 10 per cent of the hospice's annual income. Lin said: "That goes to support the day to day running of the hospice and contributes to the services. That leaves money for patient care and staff training."
Lin said she visits the hospice itself at least once a week and feels it helps increase her motivation. She said: "I think it's really important in my role that I go up to the hospice. It keeps me part of the
team and reminds me what I'm doing and why."
To support the Dig Deep campaign the hospice shops will be launching an It's A Gift voucher scheme this year.
Lin explained: "People can purchase a gift voucher for a certain value to buy a brick, a plant or shrub, or perhaps some kind of decoration for the new hospice building and give the voucher as a present.
"All the money will be going to the capital campaign to make sure the new building project is completed."
To buy a voucher or purchase a whole range of other Christmas gifts and help the hospice visit your local Hospice of St Francis shop.
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